Alexander Gradel1,2*, Gerelbaatar Sukhbaatar3,4, Daniel Karthe5, Hoduck Kang6 1 International Forestry Consultancy Gradel, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany 2 formerly: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Faculty of Forest Sciences and 03|2019 Forest Ecology, Göttingen, Germany 3 Department of Environment and Forest Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Mongolia GES 4 Institute of Forest Science, National University of Mongolia, Mongolia 5 Engineering Faculty, German-Mongolian Institute for Resources and Technology, 133 Nalaikh, Mongolia 6 Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, Biomedi Campus, Republic of Korea * Corresponding author: [email protected] FOREST Management IN MONGOLIA – A RevieW OF CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO Degradation AND Deforestation Abstract. The natural conditions, climate change and socio-economic challenges related to the transformation from a socialistic society towards a market-driven system make the implementation of sustainable land management practices in Mongolia especially complicated. Forests play an important role in land management. In addition to providing resources and ecosystem functions, Mongolian forests protect against land degradation. We conducted a literature review of the status of forest management in Mongolia and lessons learned, with special consideration to halting deforestation and degradation. We grouped our review into seven challenges relevant to developing regionally adapted forest management systems that both safeguard forest health and consider socio-economic needs. In our review, we found that current forest management in Mongolia is not always sustainable, and that some practices lack scientific grounding. An overwhelming number of sources noticed a decrease in forest area and quality during the last decades, although afforestation initiatives are reported to have increased. We found that they have had, with few exceptions, only limited success. During our review, however, we found a number of case studies that presented or proposed promising approaches to (re-)establishing and managing forests. These studies are further supported by a body of literature that examines how forest administration, and local participation can be modified to better support sustainable forestry. Based on our review, we conclude that it is necessary to integrate capacity development and forest research into holistic initiatives. A special focus should be given to the linkages between vegetation cover and the hydrological regime. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY 03 (12) 2019 Key WORDS: forest management, Mongolia, deforestation, degradation Citation: Alexander Gradel, Gerelbaatar Sukhbaatar, Daniel Karthe, Hoduck Kang (2019) Forest Management In Mongolia – A Review Of Challenges And Lessons Learned 03|2019 With Special Reference To Degradation And Deforestation. Geography, Environment, Sustainability, Vol.12, No 3, p. 133-166 GES DOI-10.24057/2071-9388-2019-102 134 INTRODUCTION forest cover (Government of Mongolia 2018). In contrast, degradation is characterized The development and implementation of by a qualitative loss that affects forest sustainable forest management strategies ecosystem functions and is often triggered is a key environmental policy issue in by specific disturbances. Such disturbances Mongolia (Gerelbaatar et al. 2019a). The may include a decrease in stocking volume forests of northern Mongolia not only (Government of Mongolia 2018) or a shift provide resources such as timber and toward broad-leaf pioneer tree species after firewood, but also ecosystem services that intensive logging (Gerelbaatar et al. 2019a). are relevant to the well-being of the whole Continuing degradation can eventually lead country, such as water purification and to complete deforestation (Government of retention, erosion control, and biodiversity Mongolia 2018; Gerelbaatar et al. 2019a) and (Krasnoshhekov 2001; Tsogt et al. 2018; even desertification (Khaulenbek and Kang Government of Mongolia 2018). However, 2017). Direct drivers of deforestation and nearly 80% of Mongolian territory is exposed forest degradation are disturbances such as to desertification and land degradation fire, pests, unsustainable harvest practices, (Bulgan et al. 2013). With continuing overexploitation of forest resources, mining forest loss and increasing utilization activities, and overgrazing (Kondrashov pressure (Tsogtbaatar 2004; Hansen et et al., 2008; Ykhanbai 2010; Dulamsuren al. 2013; Government of Mongolia 2018), et al 2011; Khishigjargal et al., 2014; MET it is increasingly challenging to establish 2016; Government of Mongolia 2018; sustainable forest management practices Khongor et al. 2018). Underlying drivers in Mongolia. It is particularly problematic include climate change, which affects the that forest management in Mongolia often frequency and severity of droughts (Davi fails to consider science-based standards et al. 2013) and factors related to socio- (Oyunsanaa 2011). This is partly due to a lack economic and political transformation of utilizing conclusions from research for processes in Mongolia (Saladyga et al. regionally adapted management standards 2013), which encompass demographic and the practical application of suitable factors, institutional organization, and the management models. Further challenges political and legal framework (Government are related to structural weaknesses in of Mongolia 2018). On local scale permafrost terms of implementation control and degradation can also trigger forest administrative oversight (Benneckendorf degradation (Juřička et al. 2018). All of these 2011). Despite nationally and internationally aspects need to be understood in order to financed initiatives to improve the situation, develop a sustainable forest management the overall tendency of forest loss and framework that can safeguard healthy degradation has been neither stopped nor ecosystem functions and resources, as well reversed. as halt or even reverse deforestation and degradation. With regard to forest loss and degradation in Mongolia, the phenomena of deforestation We conducted a literature review of the and forest degradation need to be above-mentioned drivers of deforestation distinguished. Deforestation refers to a severe and degradation, as well as of the most (>90% canopy cover loss) or total loss of important ecosystem functions and key Alexander Gradel, Gerelbaatar Sukhbaatar et al. FOREST Management IN MONGOLIA ... socio-economic demands with the goal of warmer and drier conditions and more identifying and outlining key challenges and droughts (Batima et al. 2005, Dulamsuren lessons learned for forest management in and Hauck 2008, IWRM 2009). In general, Mongolia. the literature sources constitute that mean annual temperature has risen significantly 03|2019 MATERIALS AND METHODS during the last decades. However, because of different data material, time frames and GES We reviewed literature from the methodologies the information differs, international scientific community, the between rather low increase, for example Mongolian government, international of 0.4 °C between 1951 and 1990 (Yatagai projects, and other sources relevant to and Yasurani 1995) to moderate, e.g. with 135 our objective of formulating the following a reconstructed increase of about 1.5 °C of key challenges for forest management in growing season temperature compared to Mongolia: (1) Adaptation to and mitigation previous centuries (Davi et al. 2013), and even of global warming-induced desertification; (2) strong increase of 2.14 ° C during the last Resilience against more frequent and severe 70 years (Oyuntuya et al. 2015). According natural disturbances; (3) Linking forest and to Oyuntuya et al. (2015), precipitation has water resources management; (4) Supporting decreased in most regions by at least 0.1 forest regeneration against deforestation and mm/year. Sato et al. (2007) expects a further degradation: Afforestation, reforestation, and decrease of precipitation for some parts of underplanting; (5) Managing the conservation northern Mongolia. With regard to future of nature, biodiversity, and wildlife; (6)Increased precipitation trends, there is a considerable resource utilization and demand in forested model uncertainty for this region (Karthe et areas; (7) Consideration of the social and al. 2014). political-cultural background. In total, 155 publications were reviewed for this study. A concern raised in many sources is Of those, 125 sources are directly related that climate change may exacerbate to research, development work, or projects desertification throughout the country. in Mongolia or its immediate neighbors, 21 As northern Mongolia is an extreme and provide a rather general global or theoretical marginal habitat for trees, even minor background relevant to the challenges in changes in temperature and water availability Mongolia, and 9 provide specific insights may lead to significant changes in forest from other regions of the world that may be cover. For the Sibirian larch (Larix sibirica transferable to Mongolia. For each challenge, Ledeb.), which is the dominant tree species we provide a short overview of the current throughout most of the Mongolian taiga, situation and of lessons learned from recent Dulamsuren et al. (2011) and Kansaritoreh et studies or projects in the region. al. (2018) observed growth declines since the 1950s and correlated them with increasing Challenge 1: Adaptation to and